My vote goes to center back Troy Roberts. He hasn’t missed a single minute of any league match and has mentored rookie center back Tyler Bellamy (18 starts). The 26-year-old who spent four years with the LA Galaxy before last season with Cleveland (USL-1) has anchored a defense that has r11 shutouts, including eight in the last 13 games (since July 9). Disclaimer: The players vote on these, so I don’t know how this will go. These are just how I’d vote based on what I know. I do happen to agree a bit with coach Bob Lilley in that it’s strange to give these awards out with three matches left in the season. I would rather have seen them before the playoff home opener or, better yet, at a postseason dinner. “Whoever receives the awards, I feel strongly there will be other players that are just as deserving and played their part in where we are as a team,” Lilley said.

By the way, there will be plenty of giveaways at tonight’s Fan Appreciation Night regular-season home finale against Miami (see list below and read my preview in today’s D&C) and team awards will be done before opening kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Here are my picks below. What are yours?

MVP:Troy Roberts, defender

REASONS: See above.

Offensive Player of Year: Isaac Kissi, forward

REASONS: The 23-year-old leads team in goals (6) and points (14) and has done so in just 10 starts (21 games played) after missing the first six (knee injury). Four goals and two assists during the last 10 matches (8-2 record) is a huge, too. Runner-up here: Andrew Hoxie, forward.

Defensive Player of Year:Aaron Pitchkolan, def. midfielder

REASONS: Kind of fudging this a bit because his biggest contribution has been moving from central defense up to D-midfield. The 27-year-old’s versatility, toughness in the tackle and aerial presence has helped a ton. The midfield needed his size and rugged play. Runner-up here: Frankie Sanfilippo.

Rookie(s) of Year: Tyler Bellamy, D; Alfonso Motagalvan, M

REASONS: Another tough, tough choice so I’m going to split my vote between defender Bellamy andMotagalvan. Goalie Neal Kitson (9-5-2, 7.5 shutouts) was nearly the pick, but I felt where Bellamy, 22, came from (St. Bonaventure) and to where he is now has been a HUGE leap. As for Motagalvan, the 23-year-old has done well facilitating the attack and “managing the game,” as coach Bob Lilley likes to say. He has two assists, but has started 23 of 25 matches he’s played and has been steady. It’s not his job to be spectacular. Without him, I think a lot of things break down.

Leadership Award:Frankie Sanfilippo, defender

REASONS: THIS NO LONGER EXISTS AND WON’T BE GIVEN OUT TONIGHT, BUT I’M KEEPING IT POSTED HERE. He’s the team captain, so he’s supposed to lead, but in his first year back since leaving for Carolina and Charleston after the 2006 season, the 29-year-old has set the tone in practice and the locker room. He’ll run through a wall if it’ll help his club win … and that ‘tude trickles down.

Coach’s Award:Anthony Hamilton, forward

REASONS: He has that do-whatever-it-takes mentality that Lilley and assistant coach Bill Sedgewick also had as players. He’s a worker, a grinder and is versatile enough to play up top and midfield. I actually think most Rhinos among this group have a team-first, me-second attitude – and how different is THAT from last year? – so this was another tough choice.

Community Award: Ryan Heins, midfielder

REASONS: The third-year Rhino is good with fans and personable. Again, that’s like a lot in this group but I know he has done his part on the field (4 goals, 1 assist) and is a good talker in front of the TV cameras and with fans.

TAMPA HELPS RHINOS: Aaron King’s stoppage-time goal on Thursday night earned a 1-1 draw for Tampa against Austin, which could have gone ahead of the Rhinos (51 points) with a victory in Florida. Instead, the Aztex (14-4-8) have only one game in hand now and trail Rochester (15-6-6) by two points in the chase for the top seed in the playoffs. The Rhinos can get to 60 points if they win out (3 matches left); Austin can get to 61 points if they do the same. Austin has two matches left with St. Louis, still fighting for its postseason life, and then finishes at Carolina and Montreal. I don’t see anyway Austin wins out now, especially with those last two matches on the road in tough places. Should the Rhinos and Austin finish tied, Rochester wins the first tiebreaker, which is head-to-head matchups (1-0-1 record).

Leave a Reply

Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
Or follow him on Twitter: @RocDevo